Updated travel advisories: Warning updates for 2 tourist spots, including ‘reconsider travel’ notice

The State Department has updated travel advisories for two Central American countries popular with cruise ships and visiting tourists.

Travel alerts for Guatemala and Belize were reissued in late December. Guatemala remains under a level three “reconsider travel” alert, the next-to-highest warning, while Belize is under the level 2 “exercise increased caution” category.

Visitors wanting to go to Guatemala should reconsider their plans due to crime, including issues with gangs, robbery, carjacking, drug trafficking and violence.

“Local law enforcement may not always respond well to serious crimes, leading to low arrest and conviction rates. While tourists are not usually targeted, they can still be victims of opportunistic crimes,” the warning noted.

Three areas in Guatemala are under a “do not travel” advisory, all due to increased crime:

• San Marcos Department (except the city of San Marcos)
• Huehuetenango Department (except the city of Huehuetenango)
• Zone 18 in Guatemala City and the city of Villa Nueva

U.S. government employees are currently prohibited from traveling to those area but are allowed to go to popular tourist spots such as Tikal, Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and the Pacific coast areas in the Santa Rosa and Escuintla. Visitors are also advised to avoid traveling outside Guatemala City at night because of poorly lit roads and a high risk of serious traffic accidents.

Crime is also cited as the reason for caution in Belize.

“Violent crimes – such as sexual assault, home invasions, armed robberies, and murder – are common even during the day and in tourist areas. A significant portion of violent crime is gang-related, the alert noted.

Belize City is under a level 3 “reconsider travel” warning.

People should avoid the southside of Belize City due to crime, much of it gang related. The area does not overlap with popular tourist areas but “all visitors should maintain an elevated level of situational awareness, exercise increased caution, and practice good safety and security practices,” the State Department said.